HHNLive.com writer Jonathan Tobias sits down with Jesse McCartney to discuss his transition from teen Pop to music with an R&B edge, being compared to Justin Timberlake, losing an established fan base, writing "Bleeding Love" for Leona Lewis and more.

McCartney on the Timberlake comparisons: " It's an easy comparison because there aren't too many white boys doing this style of music..."

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Jonathan Tobias: Explain the reasoning on why you decided to do a more hip-hop/R&B album considering you have had success with your past albums by not necessarily going that route?

Jesse McCartney: Well for me I need to be comfortable too. I wanted to change it up. Growing up and listening to the music that I did which was definitely more R&B/soul type music, it was just what I loved to listen to, what I enjoyed
writing and what I enjoyed singing. Maybe I just wasn't ready to make that record. But with "Departure", it was definitely a risky road to take knowing their was a style that I accomplished that did really well. For me it was just about being progressive and taking the fans on a ride. Some of my fans are so loyal and have been around forever so you got to throw them a curveball every now and then. But so far their reaction has been really positive and I am really pumped.

JT: You didn't have any doubts by going this route because you might lose your loyal fan base?

JM: There is always that feeling in the back of your head like "Oh man I hope they understand" but if you think about it too much it can be self destructive. In your career, some things are going to hit and some are going to miss. I was pretty confident especially having the people produce the record behind me and supporting me. Having Tricky and Dream
and people like Sean Garrett putting their seal of approval on it. It's really a boost to my confidence.

JT: So you worked with a wide range of producers for the album, but you seem to devote about three songs with Sean Garrett, what made you and your team decide to work with Sean a little more than the other producers?

JM: Well I made a shopping list of people I really wanted to work with. I grew up listening to Sean's stuff and I knew he was a great writer. I would say to myself "Who did this song?" and it was Sean Garrett. I was a huge fan of his when I was younger and I just thought he would be really great. He really helped crystallize this new sound that I wanted to
accomplish. He is really good in this style of music. People like him and the Clutch are the people you want on the album if you want to do an album like I did.

JT: How much of the songwriting did you contribute to this album?

JM: I wrote about four songs on the record. The last record I wrote pretty much all of the material. Sometimes, when you do all of the writing by yourself, you can pigeon hole yourself. What I loved about having writers of this caliber, there is a trust factor. Once you let them know what you are trying to accomplish and what you are trying to get
across to the fans, they can really bring a fresh perspective to the table and bring things you would have never have thought of. Working with people like Sean, he is nuts in the studio. He comes up with the craziest shit I have ever heard and sometimes I would have to just be like "Sean that's just not happening". But he definitely pushed me to be better and
work harder. There is a song called "Rocky" that he is actually rapping on the record. I would have never thought that I would have a song like that on this record but by working with people like Sean it has opened up my perspective a little bit more.

JT: You also worked with J.R Rotem and he seems to be everywhere these days by successfully meshing hip-hop with pop music. What was it like working with him?

JM: He is amazing. The one thing about J.R is that he is really musically talented. He graduated from Berklee. He has some great ideas and he definitely found a niche and is doing his thing right now. He has the tools to do all sorts of stuff. If he made a folk record people would never know that he could do that. But he is great man. We got a long in
the studio, he is a great writer and is entertaining to say the least.

JT: You also wrote the song "Bleeding Love" for Leona Lewis, how did that come about?

JM: Well I was initially writing for my record and when I got in the studio with Ryan Tedder we wrote "Bleeding Love" and we later realized it was more of a female record and we pushed it to the side. He had to go on tour for "Apologize" (Ryan is the lead singer of One Republic) because it was hitting the airwaves. Before he was in One Republic, he was just Ryan Tedder this great writer that I knew about. Later on Simon Cowell heard the song and passed it on to Clive. He really just wanted it for Leona.

JT: With "Departure", the lyrics seem a lot more mature than with your past albums. What would you say is the overall message that you are trying to send out with "Departure"?

JM: I think the overall message is that at the end of the day this is my way of speaking about my life. This album is from a 21 year old. This is just honest stuff. It's stuff that I go through and stuff that every average 21 year old would go through as far as relationships go. But more than anything the message is musical growth. As an artist there is a lot
of dignity in that. I am really proud. This is a pivotal record and it's the most comfortable I have ever been and I am really anxious for the fans to hop on board and be a part of it.

JT:Now with the single, "Im Leavin", correct me if I'm wrong, but the lyrics are about you making a girl leave her man for you? Don't you get enough girls already?

JM: Well it depends on the dude man (haha). That song is just fun. It's more of the feeling you get after hearing it. It's not Bob Dylan lyrics. It's more of the emotion you get after hearing it. Lyrically it's just supposed to be fun. If you take yourself too seriously there is no point in even doing this.

JT: Popjustice.com compared you to Justin Timberlake and Chris Brown, how do you feel about being mentioned with those names?

JM: It feels great, I admire Justin very much. I love his music and he is very talented obviously and has definitely earned his creative license. I do hope one day to earn my creative license like he has and be able to mess around and do new things. Hopefully this record will do that. It's an easy comparison because there aren't too many white boys doing this style of music but it is definitely great being compared to artists like Justin and Chris Brown.

JT: Now you are signed to Hollywood Records (which is owned by Disney), do you think there is going to be more of a trend with their artists working with more R&B producers because you seem to be the first on their roster that is starting to do that?

JM: To tell you the truth I do not think they have other artists that are into this style of music. I don't think it's going to be a trend there at Hollywood. The head of the label and I realized that this is the journey I should take and the path I should go down. I mean I can't speak for other artists on the label but I think I am the one artist they have that is in this world of music.

JT: What do you think the next single will be for the album?

JM: Oh man it depends on what day you ask me. There is a record called "My Baby" which was produced by J.R and has those heavy synthesizers. There is also a song I wrote with the Clutch called "It's Over" and is a strong mid tempo that I think can hit hard on the radio. I am still trying to pump this first single though.

JT: How much do you think this sound will be a part of your future career?

JM: Well now that I have established this as my sound I am going to try and stay in this world. I love making R&B. At the end of the day this is still a pop record but with R&B overtones.

JT: So what is next for you?

JM: Just a lot of touring probably. I just put my band together which I am really excited about and am trying to polish up this new material. I am doing a lot of radio shows these coming weeks and will end up touring in the Fall.

JT: Are you going to be involved with any television shows or movies coming out?

JM: No TV, no movies as of now. Music is taking the front seat. I am working on producing show ideas with other networks but as of right now I am trying to focus on the music.

JT: With file sharing being what it is today, will you ever want to branch out even more in the entertainment business?

JM: Music will always be a part of my life. It will always be there and it will never go away. An an entertainer in general I never want to be classified as one thing. I am a writer, singer and actor. People just want to stereotype you as one thing but for me it's about moving people and being able to move them at whatever outlet. I do want to branch out and
maybe direct and get behind the camera. But you have to take it one day at a time. This record is the most important thing right now. If at any point I am not having fun there is no point in doing this. For me it's only been about the love for entertainment.

JT: Any last words for everyone out there?

JM: To all the fans this record is really for them. It was made for them in mind and I love their support and cannot wait to see you live.